Having announced yesterday that Alejandro Valverde’s name would be historically removed from all 2010 races, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has now published the revised World Rankings. Unsurprisingly it is World champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), previously listed as a close second behid the suspended Spaniard, who takes over the number 1 spot.
Evans now has 10 points more than he had previously, due to his moving up various race results where Valverde was removed. The three riders beneath the Australian in the rankings also benefit from points no longer allocated to the Caisse d’Epargne rider, but their order remains the same.
Valverde’s removal has also had a significant result on the team and country rankings; his Caisse d’Epargne team now sits in a lowly 9th, where previously it had been firmly sat at number 1. With riders like Joaquin Rodriguez benefiting from points previously held by Valverde, the Katusha team takes the lead, leapfrogging Liquigas-Doimo whose Giro performances had previously put them in second.
Points gained by riders like Michael Rogers, who has moved up on to the Tour de Romandie podium, means that HTC-Columbia leapfrogs Evans’ BMC Racing Team into 4th place.
Spain still leads the national rankings, but with a considerably lower total than before. Italy is now just 115 points behind, where previously the gap was 375, making the classification much more of a contest.
Revised UCI World Ranking @ 31 May 2010
1. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing 384 (+10)
2. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) OmegaPharma-Lotto 304 (+10)
3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 288 (+20)
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 232 (+10)
5. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 216
6. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 206
7. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 203
8. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 200
9. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Astana 185
10. Alberto Contador (Spa) Team Astana 167
Team Ranking
1. Team Katusha (Rus) 575
2. Liquigas-Doimo (Ita) 566
3. Team Astana (Kaz) 525
4. Team HTC-Columbia 497
5. BMC Racing Team (SA) 479
Country Ranking
1. Spain 935pts
2. Italy 820
3. Belgium 724
4. Australia 691
5. United States 343